The Best Cigar Clubs

Saturday, September 30th

2023 Cigar Club Reviews

Premium Cigar of the Month Club

• Cost: $27.95 per month + $5 shipping

What's in a name? In the case of the Premium Cigar of the Month Club, the name says it all, and tells you exactly what you're getting. Their Original Premium Cigar Club earns our top spot for many reasons.

High quality cigars

The quality of cigars in each shipment is one reason this club ranks so well. That quality is a certainty thanks to their panel of nine tobacconists that rate over 200 cigars every week. These experts look for things like aroma and flavor profile, among other things, and only 5% of considered cigars ever make it to you, their customer. They say, "We smoke a lot of bad cigars so you don't have to."

Original premium cigar club

The Original club gives the customer the option of choosing their membership duration - select from 2 to 12 shipments with no auto renewal, or choose the ongoing option and continue receiving cigars for as long as you want. Likewise choose how often to receive your cigars - monthly, every two months, or every quarter.

Membership overview:

• Number of Cigars in Each Delivery: Five
• Cigar Origin: Central and South America and the Caribbean
• Duration: 2-12 shipments or ongoing
• Frequency: monthly, every two months, or quarterly
• Membership Minimums: 1 shipment
• Shipping: $5/shipment

5 hand-rolled cigars

Each shipment of the Original Premium Cigar Club includes five hand-rolled cigars of different sizes, shapes, and blends. These premium cigars are manufactured by both limited-production boutique labels and super-premium brands. With each cigar shipment you will also receive the monthly newsletter giving detailed cigar profiles, the history of the manufacturers, tasting notes, and suggested alcohol pairings. Also, each shipment arrives in a reusable humidification device, ensuring your cigars remain fresh and ready to enjoy.

Informative monthly newsletter

Like us, you may be impressed with all the great info in the Monthly Newsletter. That is because the panel of tobacconists spend nearly half their working year on-site in places like Nicaragua and Dominican Republic cultivating relationships with the producers, refining blends, and inspecting the final products. Their long history of relationship building in these key regions, going on since the club's inception in 1994, has allowed Premium's panel of experts to be brought in by the manufacturers to help create ultra-exclusive cigars available only to club members.

Highest rating

The Original Premium Cigar Club offers everything the discerning cigar enthusiast needs in a club membership. They have customer options with regards to duration and frequency - with no auto renewal - and you receive high quality, expert tested cigars at a reasonable price. Premium Cigar of the Month Club has earned our highest rating and we believe their Original Premium Cigar Club could be the right fit for you.

Thompson Cigar

• Cost: From $29.50 per month

Founded in Key West in 1915, Thompson Cigar is the oldest mail order cigar company in the country. Companies in any business don't last that long without delivering quality and value to their customers time and time again. The cigar business is no different and you can be sure the knowledge and expertise gained with over 100+ years making and selling cigars carries over to Thompson Cigar's cigar club.

Sampler of the month

Thompson Cigar's Cigar Tour Sampler of the Month Club allows you to try five new and unique cigars each month. And they offer some flexibility in their Cigar Tour membership. Choose the ongoing membership and receive monthly shipments until you cancel. Or choose to receive 3, 6, 9, or 12 monthly shipments. Shipping is free every month.

Membership overview:

• Number of Cigars in Each Delivery: Five
• Cigar Origin: around the world
• Duration: 3, 6, 9, 12 months or ongoing
• Frequency: monthly
• Membership Minimums: 1 shipment
• Shipping: free

Cigars from around the globe

Each month the five cigar selections are sourced from around the globe and your first monthly shipment also includes a free cigar cutter. Along with each month of brand name premium cigars you receive, Thompson Cigar sends the Cigar Tour Newsletter which includes information on each cigar and how they were made.

Great option

Whether you have been involved in the cigar world nearly as long as Thompson Cigar or you're new to the hobby, Thompson Cigar wants to help you learn more about the world of cigars and find more enjoyment from your cigar experience. Their Cigar Tour Sampler of the Month Club and Newsletter is a great way to educate yourself on premium cigars from top manufacturers around the world. The Cigar Tour from Thompson Cigar is a great option, from a long standing cigar expert.

Rare Cigar Club

• Cost: $42.95 per month + $5 shipping

The Rare Cigar Club, a part of the highly regarded Month of the Club group, is unique among the best cigar clubs available today. This club is for the most discerning of cigar enthusiast, the cigar aficionado.

Limited production cigars

With the Rare Cigar Club you'll receive extremely limited production cigars made by boutique manufacturers, along with high-end cigars from the super-premium brands. Each month you'll receive four top-rated cigars of different shapes and sizes, hand crafted by top producers in Central and South America and the Caribbean using the highest quality aged tobaccos and amazing tobacco blends.

Reusable humidification device

With each monthly shipment from the Rare Cigar Club you will also receive the monthly newsletter giving detailed cigar profiles, the history of the manufacturers, tasting notes, and suggested alcohol pairings. Also, each shipment arrives in a reusable humidification device, ensuring the high quality of each cigar isn't compromised while in transit.

Cigar club options

The Rare Cigar Club provides a flexible option of membership duration. You can select from 2 to 12 shipments with no auto renewal, or choose the ongoing option and continue receiving cigars until you wish to cancel your membership. You can also choose how often to receive your cigars - monthly, every two months, or every quarter.

Membership overview:

• Number of Cigars in Each Delivery: Four
• Cigar Origin: Central and South America and the Caribbean
• Duration: 2-12 shipments or ongoing
• Frequency: monthly, every two months, or quarterly
• Membership Minimums: 1 shipment
• Shipping: $5/shipment

Panel of tobacconists

The Rare Cigar Club ensures the highest quality cigars by testing every brand and style before sending any cigars to you. Their panel of nine tobacconists rate over 200 different cigars every week. These experts rate for things like aroma and flavor profile and only 5% of tested cigars are rated high enough to be included in the club. They say, "We smoke a lot of bad cigars so you don't have to." Collectively, the panel spends nearly half their working year on-site in places like Nicaragua and Dominican Republic cultivating relationships with producers, refining blends, and inspecting the final products.

Among the best

Limited production, high quality, rare cigars is what Rare Cigar Club offers those willing to spend a little more for the best cigar club experience. In fact, this is the most expensive club on our list, but if you really love cigars, it may be worth it. If you're looking for the easiest way to try the best of the best or gift a wonderfully elaborate membership to a cigar aficionado Monthly Clubs, Rare Cigar Club should be at the top of your list of considerations.

Cigars International

• Cost: From $19.95 per month

If you haven't heard of Cigars International before, they've been in the business of all things Cigar since 1996. Despite a kind of crazy looking website, Cigars International provides a great Cigar of the Month Club that has produced a long list of happy customers over the many years they've been in business.

2 membership levels

Cigars International provides two different membership levels, the Original Club which ships four different cigars each month, and the Double Decker Club that, you guessed it, doubles the Original club and ships 2 cigars each of four different brands (eight cigars per shipment). All shipments also include the Tobacco Leaf newsletter and the first club shipment includes a free cigar cutter.

Premium hand-rolled cigars

You can choose Cigars International's 3, 6, or 12 month membership, or the ongoing membership. With the ongoing membership you continue to receive monthly shipments until you wish to cancel. All shipments from the Cigar of the Month Club are stocked with premium hand-rolled cigars sourced from the world's finest cigar producing regions. These premium and super-premium cigars are from world's biggest names in cigar making and some are highly rated, rare small-batch selections.

Membership overview:

• Number of Cigars in Each Delivery: Four or Eight
• Cigar Origin: around the world
• Duration: 3,6, 12 month or ongoing
• Frequency: monthly
• Membership Minimums: 1 shipment
• Shipping: free

Most budget friendly

Cigar International's Cigar of the Month Club is also the most budget friendly club on our list at less than $20 per month. They also provide free shipping on all club shipments.

Strong choice

Cigar International has a long history of providing quality cigars to their club members. With premium selections from across the cigar world and some flexibility in their membership options, their Cigar of the Month Club rates high on our list. If you are looking for a budget friendly cigar club, check out Cigar International, it might be the right club for you.

Cigar of the Month Club

• Cost: From $26.78 per month

The Cigar of the Month Club from Clubs of America touts itself as the, "Original club, since 1994" and with that long history they've made over 3 million cigar club shipments. They choose cigars from the top cigar producing regions around the world including cigars from countries such as Honduras, Canary Islands, Dominican Republic, the United States and more.

Go-to place for membership clubs

Clubs of America is the go-to place for all things membership. Whether you're looking for a unique gift or enjoy the finer things for yourself, Clubs of America offers cigars, coffee, chocolate, beer and a number of other club membership options.

Membership overview:

• Number of Cigars in Each Delivery: Five
• Cigar Origin: around the world
• Duration: 2,3,4,6, or 12 month
• Frequency: monthly, every 2 months, or every 3 months
• Membership Minimums: 2 months
• Shipping: free

Customize your cigar club

The Clubs of America Cigar of the Month Club has a nice selection of options to choose from, including different commitment lengths and frequency of cigar deliveries. You, the customer, can customize your club to fit your needs. Receive your cigars for 2, 3, 4, 6, or 12 monthly shipments all sent free of shipping costs.

Cigar Expeditions newsletter

Each shipment also comes with the Cigar Expeditions newsletter. This has information about the monthly cigar selections including the traits and locations from which they come, fun facts from the cigar world, and more. Also, with your first shipment you'll receive a free cigar cutter. You can pay in full or pay per shipment with no up-charge.

Making members happy

The Cigar of the Month Club from Clubs of America has been successfully delivering rare cigars of premium quality for a number of years. While their main focus and expertise is not necessarily in just cigars, they do a decent job of making cigar club members happy with predictable deliveries and unique selections.

Amazing Clubs

• Cost: From $27.95 per month

Like many gift club websites, Amazing Clubs has a multitude of different "Of the Month" club offerings. Their Cigar of the Month Club delivers five cigars from around the world each month. The cigar selections are hand-rolled using premium tobacco leaves from the top tobacco producing regions. All monthly shipments also include the Tobacco Road newsletter that explains the monthly selections and has fun cigar facts.

Cigar club options

When ordering Amazing Club's Cigar of the Month Club for you or your gift recipient, you can choose the frequency of shipment (every month or every two months) and the membership duration (the ongoing club is continuous until cancelled or select the three month club, six month club or twelve month club). Also available is the Seasonal Club which delivers every three months for a total of four shipments. All shipments are free in the lower 48 United States.

Membership overview:

• Number of Cigars in Each Delivery: Five
• Cigar Origin: around the world
• Duration: 3, 6, or 12 months, seasonal (4 shipments every three months), or ongoing
• Frequency: monthly, every two months, or seasonal (every three months)
• Membership Minimums: 1 shipment
• Shipping: free in the lower 48 states

They'll Love It guarantee

Another feature of the Amazing Clubs Cigar of the Month Club is their "They'll Love It" guarantee. If for any reason a club recipient is unhappy, Amazing Clubs will do everything they can to make them happy. After that if they are still not satisfied Amazing Clubs will send a full credit for any unshipped cigars.

Trustworthy option

With a long history of providing gift of the month clubs, Amazing Clubs can be trusted to deliver good quality cigars month after month. Their customizable club membership makes Amazing Clubs an option for many cigar enthusiasts. If you've had good luck with Amazing Clubs in the past, this may be a great cigar club to consider. We couldn't confirm that they put as many hours into the selection process as those companies ranked higher. However, Amazing Clubs has a history of delivering quality products on time.

Gotham Cigar Club

• Cost: From $24.99

Gotham Cigars, a division of a larger wholesale tobacco company, was created in 2001. The Gotham website provides all things Cigar from a long list of popular brands. Customers can choose from premium cigars, machine made, filtered, and much more.

4 cigar clubs

Besides a plethora of cigars and cigar gift options, Gotham provides four different cigar club memberships to choose from. The Silver Membership is a recurring monthly membership while the other levels are for set durations. Gold members will receive shipments for three months, Platinum members for six months, and Diamond members for 12 months.

5 premium cigars

All four membership levels deliver five premium cigars monthly which are hand selected by Gotham's cigar experts. And every delivery is sent with a detailed newsletter explaining each cigar's origin and flavor profile, has free shipping, and includes a cigar cutter and wooden matches.

Lacking club details

While much of this sounds attractive to the cigar club shopper, Gotham's websites lacks the club details we were looking for. How does Gotham choose their cigars for each delivery? What effort is put into the selection process?

Membership overview:

• Number of Cigars in Each Delivery: Five
• Cigar Origin: around the world
• Duration: 3, 6, or 12 month, or ongoing
• Frequency: monthly
• Membership Minimums: 1 shipment
• Shipping: free

Lower rating

The Cigar Club from Gotham Cigars offers several levels of membership, but lack the delivery frequency options that other clubs provide. That, combined with the disappointing lack of information and insight into how the cigar club selection process is made, contributes to their lower rating.

Southern Cigar Company

• Cost: From $35.95 per month

Founded in 2015, Southern Cigar Company is one of the new players in the cigar club world. Their stated goal is to "connect cigar lovers with nothing but the best smokes".

4 cigars in each shipment

To do that, they deliver four cigars from around the world per month to club members. Along with your monthly allotment of cigars, which are sealed a in zipper bag and have a humidity pack enclosed, each shipment comes with an information card with all the details of your cigars. And your first shipment will include a torch lighter and cigar cutter.

3 membership plans

Customers of Southern Cigar Company can choose from three membership levels - a month-to-month plan, which will continue to send you cigars until you cancel membership, and a three- and six- month plan for those looking for a gift or a shorter trial period. All membership options are auto-renewing so if you want to stop receiving cigars after you three or six month plans ends, you will need to cancel membership.

Membership overview:

• Number of Cigars in Each Delivery: Four
• Cigar Origin: around the world
• Duration: 3 or 6 month, or ongoing
• Frequency: monthly
• Membership Minimums: 1 shipment
• Shipping: free

More information needed

While the fun and hip website got us initially excited, we quickly realized we definitely need more information and clarity to understand how, when and where Southern Cigar Company make their monthly selections. We also wonder why they cost more than most of the other clubs on our list.

Room to improve

With Southern Cigar Company being a younger company, in this popular marketplace, we would like to see more in-depth information on the analysis behind the selections. The minimal information, along with a price approaching the highest of all our reviewed clubs, has led us to give them a lower rating.